Equality Torch Relay Attacker Arrested in Lemon Grove, CA

Carrying the torch for gay marriage
Supporters fan out around the county
By Jeanette Steele, Union-Tribune Staff Writer

A handful of marriage equality torches were carried on foot, in cars and even on a unicycle to city halls around the county yesterday by people protesting Proposition 8, the November state ballot initiative that stripped gays and lesbians of the right to marry.

In a twist on protesting, organizers mobilized about 140 residents in far-flung corners of the county to walk their own streets carrying a torch as a symbol of the cause. The torch's flames were actually pieces of shaped metal.

An attack on the event organizer in Lemon Grove, which resulted in the arrest of an Oceanside man, was the only interruption of what was a relatively peaceful event.

The whole point is to get outside of people's comfort zones and raise awareness, said Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride, the gay-rights group that launched the event. When people start to see gays and lesbians living in their own neighborhood, they change their opinion.

Saddled on her motorcycle, south San Diego resident Silvia Gonzalez escorted one of five torches that passed from city to city yesterday. Gonzalez joined a procession that started in Imperial Beach at dawn and moved through Chula Vista and National City before traveling to Coronado by ferry.

I'm happy to be doing something in the South Bay, said Gonzalez, who is married to her spouse, Carolyn, in the eyes of her church but not the law. I'm used to doing things where we have more of our supporters.

Jett Ford of Chula Vista rumbled alongside. She and Gonzalez said they experienced only positive reactions from bystanders along the route something Ford didn't expect so far from the traditionally gay-friendly neighborhoods of Hillcrest and central San Diego.

I'm a little surprised, Ford said. The gay community isn't as visible here as in other places but I love it.

DeHarte didn't have the same luck in Lemon Grove, where a man approached and slapped him in the face a few times as deHarte stood next to the city's landmark lemon statue on Broadway, near a San Diego Trolley stop.

DeHarte, who was carrying a large rainbow flag, wasn't hurt but filed a report with the Sheriff's Department. A KUSI cameraman caught the incident on tape.

That just reinforces why we have to get out here, deHarte said.

Deputies arrested the assault suspect on an outstanding warrant for weapons possession, trespassing and violating a restraining order, sheriff's Sgt. Greg Hampton said. The suspect was expected to face a misdemeanor hate crime battery charge in connection with the Lemon Grove attack, Hampton said.

The daylong relay ended with a rally at the County Administration Center in downtown San Diego. Along the way, a small ceremony sometimes accompanied the handoff from one bearer to the next.

Lemon Grove Councilman George Gastil spoke at one such ceremony a few moments after deHarte was slapped. Gastil said that despite being Obama country, Lemon Grove voted strongly for Proposition 8 in November.

I am giving you an assignment, he told the small group traveling with the torch. Reach out to your friends and neighbors and get those conversations going.

North Park resident Chuck Stemke, who carried the torch through part of Lemon Grove, said he hopes being out in the public will help the growing movement for a 2010 ballot measure that would reverse Proposition 8.

It's what everyone is looking to, Stemke said.

http://sandiegopride.org/

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• lgbt
• attack
• assault
• arrest
• hate
• crime
• Lemon Grove
• San Diego
• gay
• march
• marriage
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[Eshto]

Homophobic attitudes correlate most strongly with lack of education and high religiosity. Some parts of black culture are very church-centered.

But it's not because they're black, so do try and fight the urge to stereotype. If you waved this flag in my hometown of 99% white people you would get an even worse reaction.

[GreyfoxRaposa]

"Christ's love" caught in camera.=P

[tarantarans]

He kicked the shit out of that flag. :/ What a pussy...his ass will get a pounding like his momma's pussy when he goes to jail. 

[5150Murph]

@MAdk1p Gays will never get married.. because of the verbage.. hence man and woman.. the gays need to persue a civil union type deal.. then you'll be good but I know gays want to be controversial so you'll act like little bitches and claim nobody likes you.. its getting old

[5150Murph]

that has nothing to do with queer bashing.. thats a bad part of town in san diego to be throwing around any flag

[KILLBILLFREAK]

@MAdk1p -.- are you serious?

[12novideo]

LOL!!

[shamantrainer]

no god hates fags, read the book

[gameshowguy2000]

I would not blame it on black or white people..I would blame it on the people who think that gay marriage is "something that God would not want".

As far as I know, what God WOULD want is for us to "love thy neighbor as thyself."

It seems the Prop 8 supporters, as well as the organizations supporting it (American Family Association, Focus on the Family, etc.) have forgotten those important words, if you ask me.

[geomike99]

This Juliani Grandi link is much more entertaining than the "Equality Torch Relay" video.

[geomike99]

lol

[katie220]

no..didn't you see the first guy who ran relay in el cajon was a nice looking black man?